Author Maureen Lee, who wrote more than 20 novels set in her native Liverpool, has died at the age of 88.
Her son, the DJ and electronic music producer Dave Lee, said she died on December 31 surrounded by family following a short illness.
Lee was born in Bootle, Merseyside, and later moved to Colchester, Essex, with her family.
She published 24 romance and thriller novels between 1983 and 2013, including the Pearl Street series, and wrote more than 150 short stories.
In 2000, her book Dancing In The Dark was named novel of the year by the Romantic Novelists Association.
Her works also regularly appeared in Sunday Times Bestsellers lists and a number were published in Spain, Poland and Russia.
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